In a significant archaeological breakthrough, a tomb dating back 1,116 years to the Later Liang Dynasty (907-923) has been unearthed in Xinhe county, located in North China’s Hebei Province, according to a report from Xinhua News Agency. This unprecedented find in the region promises a wealth of knowledge on the cultural customs and historical landscape of the dynasty.
As Zhao Shimin, director of the local cultural heritage protection office, pointed out, this is the first time that relics from the Later Liang Dynasty have been discovered in this area. He remarked, “The tomb epitaph contains detailed records, offering valuable references for understanding the cultural heritage and funeral customs of the Later Liang Dynasty. Moreover, it serves as historical evidence for studying the geographical evolution of Xinhe county.”
The ancient tomb’s existence was stumbled upon unexpectedly during dredging work in a nearby river channel by local construction workers. An epitaph revealed that it was inscribed 1,116 years ago.
The tomb, aligned in a north-south direction, boasts a domed structure with a burial chamber beneath it. Although the upper part of the chamber has eroded over time, the lower section remains in a considerably intact state. Brick doors, imitating wooden structures, ornate the walls flanking the coffin bed. A well-preserved epitaph, comprising a lid and a stone tablet, is situated to the south of the coffin bed.
The epitaph’s lid is inscribed with “Epitaph of Zhao Fujun from Da Liang.” The stone tablet, with dimensions of 44.5 centimeters in length, 45 centimeters in width, and 8 centimeters in height, contains over 640 characters. It portrays a sophisticated writing style and a balanced rhyming scheme.
As per the epitaph, the tomb’s owner, a man named Zhao, originated from Tianshui, in Northwest China’s Gansu Province. The epitaph also reveals that one of his ancestors served in esteemed roles during the Jin Dynasty (317-420), after which his family relocated to what is now Xinhe county.
The excavation of the ancient tomb led to the recovery of fragments of a white porcelain bowl among other artifacts.
This latest discovery joins a series of recent archaeological finds in Hebei Province. In June, seven well-preserved tombs from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) were discovered at a construction site in Handan, Hebei. These tombs, dating back 1,100 years, held significant research value, prompting immediate archaeological explorations. In 2022 alone, over 460 ancient tombs and 400 cultural relics were unearthed during archaeological excavations in Handan.
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